The walker's comment could be regarded as coming from a disinterested bystander, but welcome all the same. Yet the comment by Bill Jenman, who had overseen Selwyn's Wood for some 12 or more years was extremely pleasing. He had been passing the reserve and greeted us warmly. It was not just his compliment which we enjoyed, but his knowledgeable chat about wildlife and wildlife on our reserve in particular, which gave us a new perspective to our labours.

We were able to compare notes on tree heights in the plantation, particularly the wild cherries; on the coppiced hazel-lined footpath; on the bluebells, just pushing out new shoots through the ground; on the small evidences of dormice in the wood, and grey squirrels ruining the trees and later on, killing fledglings.

It had been a pleasurable interlude, and a hour later we had definitely decided the time had come to stop thinning the trees because spring was on it's way. We have to make the wood - other than the paths and rides - a "no-go" area. The birds are beginning to pair up and search for nesting sites, and animal-life is becoming more active, while there is the practical difficulty of saws jamming due to the rising sap.

So we must turn to other jobs like bridge mending, a little footpath widening, some measures against erosion, followed by our perennial battle to keep the heather in good heart. It is the season to review our work, but there is always plenty to do.

Mother Nature sees to that.

John Hall © 2002